At the Café
Warm-up
You've learned cases, possessives, and numbers. Now it's time to combine everything in a real Ukrainian scenario: at the café! Ukrainian café culture is vibrant—from traditional cafés serving борщ and вареники to modern coffee shops in Lviv and Kyiv. Let's learn how to order like a local.
Presentation
Key Café Phrases
When you walk into a Ukrainian café, you'll use phrases you've already learned—but combined in natural ways:
Entering and Seating:
- Столик на двох, будь ласка. /ˈstɔlɪk nɑ dʋɔx/ (Table for two, please.)
- Можна меню? /ˈmɔʒnɑ mɛˈnʲu/ (Can I have a menu?)
- Де туалет? /dɛ tuɑˈlɛt/ (Where is the restroom?)
Ordering:
- Що порекомендуєте? /ʃt͡ʃɔ pɔrɛkɔmɛnˈdujɛtɛ/ (What do you recommend?)
- Я візьму каву. /jɑ ˈʋizʲmu ˈkɑʋu/ (I'll take coffee.)
- Принесіть, будь ласка, борщ. /prɪnɛˈsʲitʲ/ (Please bring borscht.)
- Ще один салат, будь ласка. /ʃt͡ʃɛ ˈɔdɪn sɑˈlɑt/ (One more salad, please.)
Paying:
- Рахунок, будь ласка. /rɑˈxunɔk/ (Check, please.)
- Разом чи окремо? /ˈrɑzɔm t͡ʃɪ ɔˈkrɛmɔ/ (Together or separately?)
- Це все. /t͡sɛ wsɛ/ (That's everything.)
- Дякую, було дуже смачно! /ˈsmɑt͡ʃnɔ/ (Thank you, it was very delicious!)
In Ukraine, it's common to spend HOURS at a café—reading, working, chatting with friends. Unlike in some countries where cafés rush you out, Ukrainian cafés welcome you to stay. Order one coffee, enjoy the atmosphere, and relax. This is called «кавова культура» (coffee culture).
Putting It Together
Notice how you're using multiple cases in one conversation:
| Case | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Subject | Я візьму каву. (I'll take coffee.) |
| Accusative | Direct object | Я візьму каву. (I'll take coffee.) |
| Genitive | Quantity | Склянку води, будь ласка. (A glass of water, please.) |
| Locative | Location | Ми в кафе. (We're at the café.) |
You're not learning new grammar—you're combining what you know into real interactions.
Lviv is Ukraine's coffee capital! Legend says the first café in Central Europe opened in Lviv in 1683. Today, Lviv has hundreds of unique coffee shops—from traditional «kavyarni» to modern third-wave cafés. If you visit, try «кава по-львівськи» (Lviv-style coffee)—strong, aromatic, and served with chocolate.
Mini-Dialogue 1: Ordering Coffee
In a Lviv café:
— Доброго дня! Столик на одну, будь ласка.
— Звісно, ось біля вікна. Меню.
— Дякую. Що порекомендуєте?
— Наша кава по-львівськи дуже смачна.
— Чудово! Я візьму каву по-львівськи і круасан.
— Молоко? (Milk?)
— Так, будь ласка.
— Одну хвилинку.
Translation:
— Good afternoon! Table for one, please.
— Of course, here by the window. Menu.
— Thank you. What do you recommend?
— Our Lviv-style coffee is very delicious.
— Wonderful! I'll take Lviv-style coffee and a croissant.
— Milk?
— Yes, please.
— One moment.
Mini-Dialogue 2: Lunch with a Friend
At a traditional Ukrainian café:
— Привіт! Я тут.
— О, привіт! Замовляємо?
— Так. Я візьму борщ і вареники.
— А я візьму салат і рибу. Принесіть, будь ласка, ще хліб.
— І воду, будь ласка.
— Це все?
— Так, достатньо. Рахунок, будь ласка, окремо.
Translation:
— Hi! I'm here.
— Oh, hi! Shall we order?
— Yes. I'll take borscht and varenyky.
— And I'll take salad and fish. Please bring more bread.
— And water, please.
— Is that everything?
— Yes, that's enough. Check, please, separately.
In Ukraine, it's normal to ask for окремі рахунки (separate checks) when dining with friends. The waiter won't be surprised—it's standard practice. Just say: «Рахунок окремо, будь ласка.»
Practice
Common Waiter Questions
Here's what you'll hear from waiters:
| Waiter Says | You Respond |
|---|---|
| Що бажаєте? (What would you like?) | Я візьму каву. (I'll take coffee.) |
| Цукор? (Sugar?) | Так / Ні, дякую. (Yes / No, thank you.) |
| Ще щось? (Anything else?) | Так, ще салат. / Ні, це все. (Yes, one more salad. / No, that's all.) |
| Разом чи окремо? (Together or separately?) | Разом, будь ласка. (Together, please.) |
Useful Verb Forms
You'll use these verb forms constantly:
- візьму (I'll take) — from взяти (to take)
- порекомендуєте (you recommend) — from порекомендувати (to recommend)
- принесіть (bring!) — imperative from принести (to bring)
- спробувати (to try) — «Можна спробувати?» (Can I try?)
In English, we say «I want coffee.» In Ukrainian, saying «Я хочу каву» is grammatically correct but sounds DEMANDING—like a child wanting candy.
Polite way: «Я візьму каву, будь ласка.» (I'll take coffee, please.) Even more polite: «Можна каву?» (May I have coffee?)
Remember: «візьму» is polite, «хочу» is direct.
Mini-Dialogue 3: Sweet Tooth
At a dessert café in Kyiv:
— Добрий вечір! Що порекомендуєте на десерт?
— У нас чудовий медівник і наполеон.
— О, я люблю наполеон! Візьму наполеон і чай.
— Який чай? Чорний чи трав'яний? (Black or herbal?)
— Трав'яний, будь ласка. Цукор? Ні, дякую.
— Одну хвилину.
Translation:
— Good evening! What do you recommend for dessert?
— We have wonderful honey cake and napoleon.
— Oh, I love napoleon! I'll take napoleon and tea.
— Which tea? Black or herbal?
— Herbal, please. Sugar? No, thank you.
— One moment.
Ukrainians LOVE desserts. Popular sweets include:
- Медівник (Honey cake) — layers of honey and cream
- Наполеон — puff pastry with custard
- Київський торт (Kyiv cake) — hazelnut meringue, a Kyiv specialty
Fun fact: «Київський торт» was created in 1956 and became so popular that it's now exported worldwide!
Production
Your Turn: Role-Play Scenarios
Scenario 1: You're at a café. You want coffee and a croissant. Ask for a table, order politely, and ask for the check.
Model Answer:
— Доброго дня! Столик на одну, будь ласка.
— (Waiter seats you)
— Дякую. Можна меню?
— (Waiter brings menu)
— Я візьму каву і круасан. Молоко? Так, будь ласка.
— (After eating)
— Рахунок, будь ласка. Дякую, було смачно!
Scenario 2: You're with a friend. You want separate checks. Order borscht and ask for bread.
Model Answer:
— Я візьму борщ, будь ласка.
— Принесіть, будь ласка, ще хліб.
— (After eating)
— Рахунок окремо, будь ласка.
Cultural Insight
Ukrainian Café Etiquette
Tipping: Tipping is becoming more common in Ukraine, especially in cities. 10% is standard for good service. You can say: «Дякую за обслуговування» (Thank you for the service).
Leave cash on the table or tell the waiter you don't need change: «Не треба решти» (No need for change). Many cafés now accept card tips, but cash is still appreciated!
Coffee Culture:
- Kyiv has modern specialty coffee shops with international styles.
- Lviv is famous for traditional coffee culture—expect cozy, historic cafés.
- Odesa has seaside cafés with Mediterranean vibes.
Meal Times:
- Сніданок (Breakfast): 7-9 AM
- Обід (Lunch): 12-2 PM — the main meal
- Вечеря (Dinner): 6-8 PM
Add «будь ласка» (please) to EVERYTHING. Ukrainians appreciate politeness, and this tiny phrase makes you sound friendly and respectful:
- Рахунок, будь ласка.
- Каву, будь ласка.
- Ще води, будь ласка.
📋 Підсумок
Тепер ви можете (Now you can):
- ✅ Попросити столик і меню (Ask for a table and menu)
- ✅ Замовити ввічливо (Order politely)
- ✅ Запитати рекомендації (Ask for recommendations)
- ✅ Попросити рахунок (Request the bill)
Запам'ятайте (Remember):
- Кажіть «візьму», не «хочу» (Say «I'll take», not «I want»)
- «Будь ласка» — ваш найкращий друг (Please is your best friend)
- «Рахунок окремо» = separate checks
- Проводьте час у кафе — це частина української культури!
Need More Practice?
External Review
🎯 Activities
Café Vocabulary
Waiter Questions
How does a waiter ask accurately "What would you like"?
How does a waiter ask accurately "Are you ready to order"?
How do you accurately ask for the bill?
How do you ask for a table for two people?
How do you accurately ask "Can I have a menu"?
How do you accurately ask for a napkin now?
How does the waiter or customer say "Bon appetit" in Ukraine?
How can you say accurately the phrase "The bill, please"?
How does the waiter ask about sugar?
How does the waiter ask about milk?
How does the waiter ask "Anything else"?
How does the waiter ask "Black or herbal"? (about tea)
Complete the Café Dialogue
Café Etiquette
In Ukraine, it's normal to spend hours at a café.
You should say «Я хочу каву» when ordering.
Asking for separate checks is common in Ukraine.
Tipping is never expected in Ukraine.
Lviv is famous for its coffee culture.
«Будь ласка» should be added to most requests.
You should rush to leave after finishing your coffee.
«Візьму» is the polite way to say "I'll take."
The waiter will ask «Разом чи окремо?» when bringing the bill.
«Меню» means "table" in Ukrainian.
«Ще» means "more" or "another."
Київський торт is a famous Kyiv dessert.
Café Phrases by Function
Ordering (Замовлення)
Paying (Оплата)
Etiquette (Етикет)
Order the Café Sentences Order
Identify the correct order: "Table for two, please."
Identify the correct order: "I'll take coffee with milk."
Identify the correct order: "What do you recommend?"
Identify the correct order: "Please bring more bread."
Identify the correct order: "Check separately, please."
Identify the correct order: "That's everything."
Identify the correct order: "Thank you, it was..."
Identify the correct order: "That's enough."
Identify the correct order: "Can I have a menu?"
Identify the correct order: "Anything else?"
Identify the correct order: "Please bring water."
Identify the correct order: "I'll take this salad."
Polite vs Direct
Café Situations
You walk into a café with a friend. What do you say first?
The waiter brings the menu. What's your response?
You don't know what to order. What do you ask?
You want coffee. What's the polite order?
The waiter asks «З цукром?» You want sugar. What do you say?
You want more bread. What do you say?
The waiter asks «Ще щось?» You're finished ordering. What do you say?
You've finished eating. What do you ask for?
The waiter asks «Разом чи окремо?» You want to split. What do you say?
You're leaving. What's a nice thing to say?
Where is Lviv's coffee culture most famous?
What dessert is a Kyiv specialty?
📚 Vocabulary
| Word | IPA | English | POS | Gender | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| достатньо | /dɔstˈatnʲɔ/ | enough, sufficiently | adv | ||
| медівник | /mɛdiʋnˈɪk/ | honey cake | noun | ч | |
| обслуговування | /ɔbsluɦˈɔʋuʋannja/ | service, maintenance | noun | с | |
| по-львівськи | /pɔ-lʲʋˈiʋsʲkɪ/ | Lviv-style | adv | ||
| решта | /rˈɛʃta/ | rest, remainder, change (money) | noun | ж | |
| смачно | /smˈat͡ʃnɔ/ | tastily, delicious! | adv | ||
| столик | /stˈɔlɪk/ | small table | noun | ч | |
| трав'яний | /traʋjanˈɪj/ | herbal, grass (adj) | adj | ||
| хвилинка | /xʋɪlˈɪnka/ | moment, minute (diminutive) | noun | ж |